A stroll down Memory Lane

Had a short drive out with Sal, her mum and Holly the dog to have a walk along the Chesterfield Canal and through Hawks Wood. We parked up in Thorpe Salvin and walked through the village to the start of the footpath. I have lost count of the number of times we have done this walk. We usually do it every spring when the snowdrops are out but missed out this year due to Sal's dad breaking a hip and then the Covid-19 virus outbreak.

It's a walk Sal and her mum have done together all their lives and it is quite a special place for them. I let them walk on ahead as they had lots to talk about and I thought that if I left them alone, it might help with their grieving process. Anyway I was quite content with just dawdling along taking photos to be honest.

With it being a weekend, there were a few people on the towpath but never too many to make it uncomfortable. I think this stretch of the canal is really beautiful. Most canals run through industrial areas but the stretch between Kiverton and Shireoaks is mainly lined with woodland and the only sound you hear, apart from the wildlife and occasional human, is the train on the main Sheffield to Lincoln line which runs nearby.

Everybody's head seems to be all over the place at the moment, mine included. Instead of me returning to the village the way we would normally return, I carried on along the canal because for some strange reason I got it in to my head that was what they had done. I eventually turned round and headed back towards the village, bumping in to Sal who had come to see where I had got to!

We finished off our walk with a lovely pint sat outside The Parish oven. I think everyone was putting on a brave face, the funeral is fast approaching and I think this was praying on everyone's mind. Maybe we can all start to move on a bit once it is over.